Pro Dive Cairns Rescue Diver Course (1 Day Classroom + 3 Day/2Night Liveaboard)

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The PADI Rescue Diver course over four days: one day of pool and classroom training in Cairns, followed by a three day, two night liveaboard trip with up to 10 dives on the outer reef.

Days

4 days, 2 nights on board

Age

Advanced Open Water divers with first aid

Group size

Max 4

Start / finish

Cairns / Cairns

Return

See itinerary for details

Accommodation

2 nights in a berth or cabin on the liveaboard dive boat

Transport

Liveaboard dive boat, with Cairns City accommodation transfers

Meals

All meals on board the liveaboard

Route

Map of Pro Dive Cairns Rescue Diver Course (1 Day Classroom + 3 Day/2Night Liveaboard)

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Included experiences

Cairns dive centre — pool and classroom rescue training
Outer Great Barrier Reef — up to 10 training and recreational dives
Flynn, Pellowe and Thetford Reefs — dive sites
Night diving on the reef

Pro Dive Cairns Rescue Diver Course (1 Day Classroom + 3 Day/2Night Liveaboard)

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

DAY 1: CLASSROOM AND POOL IN CAIRNS

Pick-up from your Cairns city hotel is around 8am for the Pro Dive Cairns training centre at 116 Spence Street, a PADI Five Star centre in the middle of Cairns. The morning is theory: self-rescue and spotting stress in other divers, first aid and emergency equipment, and how to manage an emergency. After lunch you move to the heated pools, four metres deep, to practise the rescue skills in calm water before you try them on the reef. Pack tonight, because tomorrow's pick-up is around 6am.

Overnight: Cairns

DAY 2: OUT TO THE REEF AND THE FIRST SCENARIOS

Pick-up from your Cairns city hotel is around 6am, check-in is at the Pro Dive shop on Grafton and Shields Streets, and the boat leaves Cairns at 7am with a light breakfast on board. The run out takes about four hours. The Great Barrier Reef stretches some 2,300 km down the Queensland coast, World Heritage-listed since 1981. The training starts on arrival. On the first two dives you deal with a tired diver and a panicked diver at the surface and practise responding from the boat. The third covers a distressed diver underwater and bringing an unresponsive diver to the surface. After dinner there's a night dive at the same site.

Overnight: On board the liveaboard, on the outer reef

DAY 3: SEARCHES AND RESCUES

An early dive before breakfast covers rescues you make without swimming out to the diver. Later in the morning there's a reef dive just for the pleasure of it, and in the afternoon a missing diver search, where you plan and swim a search pattern as a team. A second night dive ends the day. After dark the reef changes shift. Parrotfish sleep wrapped in a bubble of their own mucus, turtles doze under ledges, and painted lobsters and reef crabs come out to feed. Milln Reef in particular is a favourite for night dives.

Overnight: On board the liveaboard, on the outer reef

THE REEFS: FLYNN, MILLN, THETFORD AND PELLOWE

Where you dive is the skipper's call, made each day from 19 sites on four reefs to suit the weather, tides and currents. Flynn Reef is a maze of walls, overhangs and swim-throughs, with sites such as Gordon's Mooring and Coral Gardens. Milln Reef has the Swimming Pools, where schools of diagonal-banded sweetlips hang in the current, and Whale Bommie, which drops past 20 metres. Thetford Reef is known for its bommies and giant clams, which can grow past a metre across and live for over a century. Small Pellowe Reef sits near the edge of the continental shelf, so chevron barracuda and big open-water fish turn up more often there.

DAY 4: FINAL SCENARIOS AND BACK TO CAIRNS

The sunrise dive and the one after breakfast are your final rescue scenarios, putting everything together from the first alarm to getting the diver aboard. Pass them and you're a PADI Rescue Diver. A last dive finishes by about midday. After lunch the boat heads back to Cairns and you're dropped at your city hotel around 4pm. There's an optional farewell dinner at a local restaurant, for an extra cost.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pro Dive Cairns, 116 Spence St, Cairns City, with transfers from Cairns City accommodation.
Minimum age: Prerequisite: PADI Advanced Open Water certificate or equivalent, plus a current first aid certificate.
Fitness: Some medical conditions will prevent you from diving. You complete a statement about your health and fitness to dive on board before any diving.
Dietary needs: A limited range of dietary requirements can be catered for — ask before your trip.
Accommodation note: Two nights on board the liveaboard vessel; the classroom day is in Cairns.

What to bring

Overnight bag with comfortable clothing and toiletries
Towel, swimwear, sunscreen and hat
Proof of your dive certification
Current first aid certificate
Snacks that don't need refrigeration if you are gluten intolerant or vegan
Personal drink bottle — no bottled water on board

What is included

PADI Rescue Diver manual and passport photos
Pool and classroom training day
10 dives (weather permitting), including night diving with torch batteries and cyalume sticks
All dive equipment, including dive computer and wetsuit; prescription masks if needed
Dive insurance
2 nights' accommodation on board, with bed linen
All meals on board, buffet style, with unlimited tea, coffee and Milo
Accommodation transfers in Cairns City

Not included

Environmental Management Charge — $100 from 1 April 2026, paid at check-in
Fuel surcharge — $25 per person, paid at check-in
Northern Beaches pick-up (extra cost from 1 January 2026)
Digital underwater camera hire
Soft drinks, fruit juice and chocolate bars

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.